[opendtv] Re: "we'll forever be stuck with by going ATSC"
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 13:31:39 -0500
At 12:15 PM -0500 1/11/05, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
>Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> > Others may prefer to treat HD as a premium service
>> that is separate and above Free-to-air broadcasts, as
>> is the case here in the U.S.
>
>So let's see if I get the logic straight.
>
>In the US, we already have HD as a normal service,
>available to all receiving devices that can make use
>of it, or dumbed down by receiving devices that don't
>need the full quality level. And HD or ED sets are
>appearing on store shelves in great quantity, at
>amazingly low prices ($500 level for ED sets minus
>digital tuner).
Correct.
Despite all of what you just said, hardly ANYONE is buying this vision of DTV.
The vast majority of HD owners are subscribing to cable and DBS
services as I stated correctly in the previous statement.
>
>In all DVB-T countries so far, HD will, for the
>forseeable future, have to be an added tier service.
As it is today with digital cable and DBS in the U.S.
>
>In the US, we have (and will have increasingly)
>low-cost receivers that can decode HD content. These
>are in part low cost because they are sold in large
>quantities.
Do you have any facts to support this statement. Even if you count
every device that the CEA claims is a DTV product, you will not find
any large quantities.
From Mark's memo (today)
Direct-view color (excluding LCD, projection, combos, and
"digital") sold 19.9 million units in 2004, down from 20.8 million in 2003.
The average wholesale price was $176, down from $152.
Now THAT is still a LARGE quantity!
- Total "digital" TVs (including direct-view, flat-panel, and
projection, integrated or not) sold 7.3 million, up from 4.1 million. The
average price was $1458 down from $1590.
This sounds like a large number until you look at the breakouts...
- "Digital Direct-View Receivers" sold one million, up from 0.7
million in 2003.
- "Digital" projection TV sold 3.3 million, up from 2.4 million.
The average price was $1609, UP from $1505.
- "Analog" projection TV (the difference from "digital" seems
based only on horizontal scan rate) sold 97 thousand, down from 276
thousand.
- Monochrome TV (not counting LCD) sold 150 thousand units, down
from 200 thousand.
- All forms of LCD TV sold 2.6 million units, up from 1.3
million.
- Plasma TV sold 853 thousand, up from 342 thousand.
Where in these figures do you see any large quantities of low cost receivers?
>In existing DVB-T countries, HD receivers
>will remain a premium item, demanding premium prices,
>depending on a premium tier service.
As is the case here in the U.S. today.
What is your point?
>
>Okay, so somehow, I'm supposed to complain about the
>situation in the US, for some reason. We have it
>really bad here. HD can no longer be considered a
>niche, so somehow that becomes bad news. Amazing.
Sorry Bert but HD is most certainly a niche market, and will continue
to be such for may years to come. Screens smaller than 36" will
continue to dominate the market for decades, if not forever. If you
want to call these HD displays feel free. But they do not deliver the
HD viewing experience.
Regards
Craig
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